The Toshan Man
Mark Dermul
Sample trading?
If you can help me expand my whisky palate, especially Auchentoshan, get in touch with me. Much obliged!
Auchentoshan 17 Year Old 1995 Anam na h-Alba
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Auchentoshan
17 Year Old
1995 Anam na h-Alba Refill Sherry Hogshead Number of bottles: 121 ABV : 54,8% Color : Old gold Tasted on 29/09/2014 |
Active Cask
Anam na h-Alba is Gaelic for the Soul of Scotland. This bottling is the
first from Auchentoshan from this German bottler, led by Tom
Skowronek. He chose a refill sherry hogshead from 1995 and bottled
it at cask strength. It is a 17 Year Old, distilled in December 1995
and bottled in November 2013 – so just one month shy of being 18
years of age.
It may well be a refill sherry cask, but it was quite active. Not much is
left of the typical delicate character of Auchentoshan. I am
overcome with all kinds of sherry influences: blood oranges, raisins
and marzipan. A wonderful trace of woodsmoke. Only a soft floral
hint reminds me of my favorite triple distilled malt. But what a
beautiful nose!
It is wonderfully creamy and spicy on the palate. A bit piquant, but very
tasty. The same fruit as on the nose with blood oranges in a
starring role. A touch of leather makes it a bit dry, but the fruit
keeps it more than juicy enough. Sturdy body.
The finish is warm, spicy and lingers for a very long time.
A very active cask turned this into a top Toshan. I am a fan!